Introducing Accessi-Bites: Small Tips with a Big Impact
The goal of accessibility is to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing information.
Beginning April 2026, a new Department of Justice ruling goes into effect requiring public institutions to publish internal and external content (websites, documents, spreadsheets, tools, and other items) in a manner that is accessible to all. This is critical to the work we do across University Services to serve our campus communities.
What does “accessible” actually mean?
The goal of accessibility is to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing information. For digital content, this means:
- Providing alternative text for images and tables for those using screen readers.
- Using a high contrast text-to-background color combination for those with low vision.
- Using tools and forms that are fully navigable by keyboard for those with limited motion.
- Providing transcriptions or captions for those with hearing impairment.
Don’t worry, Accessi-Bites will introduce accessibility concepts through weekly emails so you aren’t bombarded with information.
Who does this apply to?
In short, almost everyone! Any team member who creates, edits, or publishes any digital content for their job must ensure it is accessible. This includes:
- Creating a document or presentation, including meeting notes, policies, and process documents.
- Building a website or webpage.
- Sending out mass email communications.
- Creating spreadsheets or tracking tools.
The big picture
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the law? | Content produced by state and local governments (including the University) must meet level 2.1 AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 AA). |
| Why does it matter? | Making materials accessible means allowing all of our team members, stakeholders, and members of the public to access information in an equitable way. |
| What materials does it apply to? | All material created for work needs to be accessible. Simply put: If you need a material to complete your job, it must be made accessible. |
The University Services Marketing and Communications team has formed a working group with finance, IT, HR, and others to develop specific trainings which will be sent in the coming months. While specific trainings are being developed, there are some things we can start working on as a team today.
Tip #1: Remove it
Remove digital documents, pages, and media that are outdated or no longer in use. Removing outdated materials allows us to focus on making remaining content accessible. This will also allow our team members in IT and communications to focus efforts where the most support is needed.
You can find more information on what content to delete and how to delete it on the Office for Digital Accessibility’s website.